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Pets can get lost or run away from home, so it's often a good idea to get some kind of pet tracker. Our favorite pet tracker for dogs and outdoor cats is the Whistle 3 because it's a great GPS tracker that clips right onto a collar to track your pet's location and activity.
Any pet owner will agree that pets are more than just companions, they are members of the family. When a pet goes missing, it induces the same level of terror and heartbreak that a missing child would. Though it may not be practical to plant a tracking device on your child, there are many pet trackers out there that can help you keep tabs on your dog or cat.
Pet trackers come in all shapes and sizes, and they utilize different types of technology. Many pet trackers utilize GPS technology to track your pet’s movements and to show you his location within a certain radius. Some pet trackers incorporate additional benefits such as fitness or wellness tracking, and some implement training functions such as vibrations or gentle stimulation similar to a shock collar. There are even smart collars that can track your pet’s vitals.
The best pet trackers on the market aren’t cheap, so it definitely pays to do your homework to make sure you get the best model for your needs. Lucky for you, you don’t have to do all that research yourself. We have researched the top pet trackers available to bring you our top picks.
The best pet tracker overall
Why you'll love it: Pinpoint your pet’s location anywhere in the United States and track his daily activity with the Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker & Activity Monitor.
Dogs and outdoor cats tend to come and go as they please, and not always according to a particular schedule. Even if you want to give your pet the freedom to roam outside, you still want to know that he is safe — that is where a GPS cat collar comes in. These collars use GPS software to track your dog or cat so you can know where he is at all times. There are many GPS collars on the market, but our top choice is the Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker.
The third generation of this product offers enhanced coverage and performance over previous versions. Unlike Bluetooth-only pet trackers, the Whistle 3 offers nationwide coverage with a combination of GPS and cellular technology. This tracker even allows you to track your pet’s location over the past 24 hours and it will send you notifications when your pet leaves the safe zone you set up. The Whistle 3 is highly durable and waterproof, plus you can attach it to any collar up to 1-inch wide.
The well-regarded tech site PCMag gave the Whistle 3 high marks, its "Excellent" rating, and an Editor's Choice award for the best pet tracker because it's reliable, accurate, and suitable for most pets.
The Whistle GPS Pet Tracker was the top pick in GPS pet collars as rated by The SafeWise Report and it makes the top 10 list according to The Paw Tracker. The former speaks to the convenience and usability of the live-tracking GPS map and the activity monitoring app but also notes the paid service plan requirement. You will have to pay at least $6.95 a month to have access to that GPS signal.
Appcessories labels this GPS tracker one of the more affordable options on the market and speaks to the device’s sleek, aesthetically pleasing design. Amazon users are generally pleased with this third-generation model, though there may still be some kinks to work out. You can try the Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker risk-free for 90 days to see how you like it.
Pros: Pinpoint your pet’s location anywhere in the US, fast and accurate tracking with GPS and cellular technology, get alerts in app or text, create custom safe zones for your pet, monitor your pet’s activity, track your pet’s movements for 24 hours, durable waterproof design, attaches to existing collar
Cons: Only works in the United States, monthly subscription plan and Wi-Fi network required, may not work as well for pets under 8 pounds, notifications may be delayed
The best affordable dog tracking GPS collar
Why you'll love it: The Link AKC Smart Dog Collar tracks your pup's location and his activity with great accuracy.
If your dog likes to roam away from home, the Link AKC Smart Dog Collar will give you peace of mind. The collar has built-in GPS and activity tracking, so you know where your dog is and if he's exercising enough.
To use the GPS tracking, you have to pay for a service plan, which costs $9.95 per month, $95.40 for one year, or $166.80 for two years. Although it's expensive, the plan also comes with a three-year replacement warranty, support from the Pet Poison Hotline in the app, and the ability to upgrade your collar if your pup outgrows it.
The genuine leather collar comes in several sizes, including small (9 to 14 inches), medium (14 to 17.5 inches), large (17 to 21 inches), and XL (20.5 to 25 inches).
In addition to location and activity tracking, the Link collar has a remote-controlled light, so you can see your dog in the dark. The collar has some training features, which include app-controlled sounds. It supposedly keeps tabs on your dog's temperature, too, though PCMag said it didn't work in its testing. Overall, the reviewer liked this collar a lot, even though it is expensive.
Buyers on Amazon agree that the collar is worth the money, especially since it's made from leather. They also like the activity and location tracking, though some said they have syncing issues. — Malarie Gokey
Pros: Reliable GPS, tracks location, monitors activity, training features, a light for night time, leather collar
Cons: Pricey, bulky
The best high-end dog tracking GPS collar
Why you'll love it: With powerful GPS and GLONASS tracking, the Garmin Alpha 100 GPS Pet Tracker monitors your dog in a nine-mile range, viewing his location and direction as well as his speed.
Many pet owners microchip their pets, just in case they ever get lost. A microchip will help identify your pet if he gets lost and someone finds him, but it won’t help you locate your pet – a GPS pet tracker will. A GPS pet tracker not only allows you to locate your pet within a certain radius, but some models offer live-tracking in addition to other benefits. Our top choice for GPS pet trackers is the Garmin Alpha 100 GPS Pet Tracker.
Though initially designed for hunters who need to keep track of multiple dogs, the Garmin Alpha 100 GPS Pet Tracker is by far the most powerful and accurate pet tracker on the market and can be useful for the average dog owner as well. This tracker consists of a GPS-integrated collar with a handheld receiver that features a 3-inch color touch screen, preloaded with TOPO U.S. 100k mapping, as well as a rechargeable battery. Not only can you view your dog’s location and direction, but the device will also tell you the speed at which he is traveling.
As a review from Top Dog Tips states, the Garmin Alpha 100 GPS Pet Tracker may be more powerful and more expensive than the average dog owner needs, but it is by far the most powerful tracking device available for pet owners. The Canine Journal names this tracker their top pick for sporting dogs, praising the device’s ability to train and track multiple dogs in the field as well as the available 18 levels of continuous and momentary stimulation for training purposes. This tracker only has 45 reviews on Amazon, but it has a 4.5-star rating.
Purchase the Garmin Alpha 100 GPS Pet Tracker for $799.99 with no subscription plan necessary. When you purchase the device on Amazon, you also receive a free 1-year subscription to BirdsEye.
Pros: Incorporates GPS and GLONASS tracking, industry-leading 9-mile tracking range, track up to 20 dogs at once, additional dog training features, set safe zones and receive automatic alerts, LED beacon lights and rescue mode, 18 levels of continuous and momentary stimulation for training purposes
Cons: May not be ideal for very small dogs, user interface takes time to get used to, screen could be larger for easier viewing, very high purchase price, battery only lasts 20 to 40 hours, collar may be too large for everyday wear
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